The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
From the press of Lee and Shepard comes
Haphazard Personalities, chiefly of noted
Americans, by Charles Lauman, author of
the Private life of Daniel Webster, &c. In
his preface the author modestly says:
| During my protracted experience as a mer-
| chants clerk in New York, a newspaper
man, an author and artist, and an official in
Washington, 1t has been my fortune to make
| many good friends among the noted men of
the time, and it is to a portion of these that
devote this volume.
| 1t may be added that Mr. Lanman was al
so private secretary to Daniel Webster, and
at his table met many of the celebrated men
of whom he writes. Fiction aside. bicgra-
ply is undoubtedly the most desultory read
ing; while at the same time it is the most
Instructive 1t is history that never pals
upon the taste. The Life of Napoleon is the
history OF the world from before the Reyolu-
ton OF 10 until after the battle of Waterloo.
The Life of Martin Luther is the history of
the Reformation. Mr.. Lanman, however,
does not claim to have written biographies,
but merely to give such interesting reyela-
lions of character as have come under his
charming part of biography, with the dry
details left out. His table of contents CON-
prises about forty names of statesmen, d-
vines, journalists, artists, poets, some very ia
miilar, and others whose better acquaintance
we are glad to make, through Mr. Lanman's
graceful introductions. We doubt whether
a book so readable and of such general inter-
est has been published this year. Portland /:
Loring, Short & Harmony
Mr. Edmund Lees biography of Dorothy
Wordsworth is published in this country
simultaneously with its appearance in Eng
land. 1t is a tender and touching story of
the life long devotion of the sister to her
poet brother, while at the same time the per
sonality and interesting characteristics of
Miss Wordsworth are pleasantly sketched
She was considered by the friends of herself
and her famous brother, among whom were
Coleridge, Southey, the Lambs, Hazlitt and
DE Quincy, a most remarkable person, and
as having led Wordsworth to the highest and
best of his achievements. Boston: Lee a.
Shepard; Portland: Bailey and Noyes.)
The Squire of Sandal Side is the latest of
the charming stories by Amelia Barr 1t is
tale of English country life. prettlly told,
and cannot fail to attract attention. New
York: Dodd. Mead & Coz
Mabel Stanhope, A Story by kathleen
O'Meara, was written at an earlier date than
this authors delightful sketch of Madame
Mohi, and published in England several
years ago. 1t has not the dash of the bril-
liant opening of Irarka, but is very quiet
and charming story, chiefly of school life and
especially suited to young girls. 1t is full of
agreeable and attractive qualities, and has
not dull page in it, while its tone is pure
and wholesome. Boston: Roberts Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon.
There is something startling in the idea of
attacking an Epic Poem written in these
days. Inyoluntarily we turn to our great
Greek, Latin and Italian epics, approaching
the English one with distrust. But Mr.
Starr Hoyt Nichols has offered us the second
edition of his Monte Rosa, the Epic of An
Alp, and we must read it through again.
For 1T Is poetry, stately, sonorous, musical
poetry The descriptions of the Alps are
glorious, and one shudders and catches the
breath at the perils of the ascent, the Gre
vase, the descent, until it is positive re-
lief to land this party of climbers safe at the
foot at last. We have no space for review
Of this noble poem. 1t should stand upon
its merits as one of the most remarkable of
the day, and it has rugged grandeur like
its own Monte Rosa. This edition is wildly
illustrated. New York: Bedford, Clark &
Coz
MIR. Bishops novel, The Golden Justice,
has already achieved so wide popularity
with the readers of the magazine in which it
first appeared that praise at this late day
seems superfuous. 1t is certainly clever,
bright and thoroughly readable story, and,
beyond that it is Of SO fine quality, from
purely literary standpoint, as to give its au-
thor higher place in the list of fictionists
than he has ever reached before. This is no
small praise considering what ample recog-
milton has already been made of Mr.. Bish-
ops earlier novels. Boston: Roberts Broth
ers; Portland Loring, Short & Harmony
Foes of Her Household is the latest, as
well as one of the best, Of Miss Amanda
Douglass excellent stories. Doris Went
worth is a very brave, sweet little heroine.
and we follow her through the highways
and by-ways of joy and sorrow, feeling very
glad that she at last reaches pleasant and
safe refuge. Boston Lee & Shepard; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmony
Miss Preston's A Year in Eden is the most
elaborate and lengthy work of fiction which
this writer has given to the public. Like all
her writings, it is thoroughly well done, and
both entertaining and interesting. The sto-
ry is rather sad one, but full of delicate re-
fnement, keen analysis and fresh and origin
al character; and the simplicity of style,
which never verges upon dullness, is one of
its greatest charms. One should never spoil
story for the prospective reader by limiting
at the plot, SO we refrain. Boston Roberts
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short & Har-
mon)
Agatha. A Novel Old Colony Series.
Constance of Acadia, the first of this series
was received with great favor, and we pre-
dict verdict not less favorable for Agatha.
1t is an historical novel of the Plymouth
Colony, and wildly sketches its leading
characters. The spirit Of that age is pre-
served and the grouping of historical Incl
dents and characters is skillfully done, eyinc-
ing careful study as well as the instinct |
OF true artist Agatha, daughter of FL |
der Brewster is the heroine, whose fortunes |
are linked with those of Bernard Anselm, a
young man whom she had married in Hol- |
land before the great emigration, or pilgrim
age, to the New World. Anselm's history is |